The learned patterns from which we act and which disturbs our natural behavior. "Animals don't live with ghosts or a God."

During my master's program I had to write a number of theses. One of these was “Cultural influence on risk perception”. I thought about it when my girlfriend recently remarked that animals do not live with ghosts or a God in mind and therefore will not be so concerned about it.

Thai culture, for example, is peppered with everything that concerns the (evil) spirit world, ancestors and not to forget astrology, "divination & clairvoyance". By the way, things that have nothing to do with Buddhism. This comes back in dreams and in all kinds of situations and rituals and I, too, especially living in the countryside, regularly have to deal with it.

Nothing negative about that Thai culture because the culture from which I originate knows quite a few things as well. Often with fear and frightening as a motive.

For example, a while ago I had a discussion with some Filipino friends. They have been taught in education and by the church that you have to be "God fearing". What a nonsense (to me) if God is love. You don't have to be afraid of God at all, do you? Anyway, it's just an example.

Within cultures you get spoon-fed from birth, well meant by your parents, your environment, school. church, etc., quite a few "group accepted grids".

Without thinking about it, you usually accept it and it has become your truth. Many even talk regularly, stating that people who adhere or think something else are not really good. Within faith this certainly applies to me from various experiences in my life. Actually, too sad for words.

We are all programmed in our own way and from our own background, and most believe that (only) their program is good. I call it sometimes neurotic behavior.

And I think my girlfriend is right.

Indeed regularly, if you look at it from a distance, a ballast that animals do not know.

In my opinion, Life (God, Great Spirit, Essence or whatever you want to call it) is based on and / or synonymous with Love, Growth, Progress, Development, Intensity, Beauty and so on. Pure positive energy to serve with your life for which you came here (to fulfill your life mission) and not to be hindered by what people have invented for you to be able to and continue to walk in the group pass.

And yes, we do know praying mantis and yet… I think they may not pray at all and at this point they live a bit more lighthearted and maybe more happy without fear.

And, in relation to this time, animals do not have to keep any unnatural distance, sit only with two on a table, have to wear medical or non-medical mouth caps or any other made-up measures. How blissful to live naturally ...

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)

email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: 

http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Building blog:
https://pyramidhousethailand.blogspot.com 

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

Great to have an empty head

Last Sunday, after my daily meditation and yoga, I thought how wonderful it is to have an empty head again. How different from years ago.

As a young boy I had that of course, but you didn't think about that at the time. Your parents offered you safety and you were pretty free to do whatever you wanted. The world was at your feet to discover and you could say almost anything you wanted. It was often laughed about.

Over the years and with the rat race called life starting, that head of mine filled up. It will be no different for most people.

Twirling and gasping nights. It was a complete waste of time.

And yes, it took a while to be in that state of emptiness again. As it came step by step, it also said goodbye step by step. Exactly eight years ago already last Wednesday.

And actually, I have not even noticed how it left. My life, no lifestyle, has changed its routine. No social media, no or very sparse following news, that daily meditation and yoga, making myself less busy (no stress, attract or excite me less about everything that happens around me), no more in large crowds, no more to have or want to be in the foreground, no watch, no deadlines, no need or want to achieve, no status, even more laughter, and so on.

It has everything to do with "cleaning" and especially now also self-protection against the overkill of information flows (no disturbance).

It feels great and I am grateful for it.

Inhale, exhale I often say to my kids and… especially don't follow the crowd. Be happy yourself and feel free.

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)

email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: 

http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Building blog:
https://pyramidhousethailand.blogspot.com 

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

The (un)happiness radiates from it. You don't have to get upset about that sad show of sham from others.

From Facebook and other social media, we now know that most smiling faces in photos are not spontaneous and real and all the beautiful stories most of the time not totally true. The true story and face is just before and right after the selfie for instance.

Last week I was confronted a few times with stories about people who really are most creative in showing their ‘wonderful’ lives just to try to stay track with society they want to be part of.

They have lots of debts, have tremendous financial troubles and, most funny, nearly all their friends know about these sad situations of them. And yet they continue to borrow money (from friends), try to get more credit cards, etc., just to show friends in all kinds of ways how ‘happy’ they can live. As if they don't realize at all that they can't handle money. Actually, it is too bizarre that it is possible to get even more loans and also that mainly friends still want to lend money to these types (only to keep the friendship with these ‘glitter friends’.

The people who told me those stories were quite "upset" and I think that is actually a step too far. You can be proud of yourself if you live differently and know how to deal with money and to have no debts. You can be sure this fake shows finally end up in lots of misery.

And furthermore… look at it from a distance (maybe with a smile) and say "no" after hearing those blistering stories from them to get money. And if that costs a "friendship" then you may wonder what that friendship was really worth.

Living a life without debt, something that I have inherited from home and that so far always feels great in my life. And what others do or only show... let go and laugh. It's all baked air.

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)

email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: 

http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Building blog:
https://pyramidhousethailand.blogspot.com 

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

Wuhan and the future even greater distance society

Everything has a beginning and an end. So also the the Wuhan virus passing away just because the flu season is over.

My girlfriend casually commented last week that it looked like some sort of "modern" third world war. That comment made me think.

All the negative things that the virus, and especially the "wealth" of measures, has caused people who have become ill, sometimes died, all the personal suffering and also the large group that have recovered are gradually known. Every day an overkill of information as if there is nothing else in the world to talk about anymore.

All side effects are less known. Just to name a few; An increase in domestic violence, crime and suicides. Unemployment (and where I live in most cases this means no work, no money). Companies that have gone bankrupt, hospitals (here) that were filled with addicted people because of a long alcohol ban. I heard about a sharp increase in overweight and therefore increased risk of cardiovascular disease from staying at home and having less possibilities to exercise, etc ..

And for me the most touching. The face-to-face distance between people has generally increased.

Also other effects.

For example, online shopping and working from home have become very popular. Lots of innovation and creativity with, yes, the internet (Prosperity?). Online meetings and hangouts. Family ties in many cases are also strengthened. We had to take the time to connect with our closest dear ones. There was time for reading books again.

And to tell some close personal experiences. In the eight years that I have lived here, we have never had such clean air. The gasoline currently costs only 45 Euro cents per liter. More than three thousand basic household groceries are between 35 and 65% cheaper for a three-month period. A big surprise last week was that I received a substantial discount on my health insurance for a period of three months. Only 2.45 Euro for a month (normally twelve and fifty).

I really love that clean air. It once again shows how we are helping to circumvent the world and think we are in control of nature. And look at us now. In many countries we are locked in our homes and nature is flourishing again. I wrote about it before. Nature is in charge and will be the winner, not the other way around.

What will the future bring and above all, what will we do with this lesson?

"Why did it take a virus to bring people back together?

Sometimes you have to get sick before you start feeling better "

A question from a young girl and the answer from her father reading to her about a virus just before going to sleep. A short video (link below) by Tom Foolery.

Do we finally realize that happiness does not depend on running faster and consuming (more)? Or is the trouble quickly forgotten and is there catching up?

Historically, the latter is in line with expectations and I think it is a matter of waiting for the next major unexpected crisis to shake us up for the umpteenth time about what life is really all about.

In any case, our distance from each other continues to grow. I think the words "distance society" that have been born are more than sad.

Many say I'm crazy that I 'settle' for an early retirement of 35% because I quit working at the age of 54 instead of continuing until my (full) retirement age with all my stars and stripes that I had collected on my uniform in all those years before. Blessed to be rid of it now. In the end it was a nice golden cage full of stress, a bubble, and dealing with envy. Wonderful I lost my ‘status’.

Gratefully to be, at least until today so far, still super healthy. I have been enjoying a very happy life for eight years now.

Stay awake after this nearly passed big lesson. Be aware you run out of time... 

Maybe make that life change after discovering what your life is really all about ...

Who knows, watching that Tom Foolery video (just four minutes) can help you with those steps.

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)

email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: 

http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Building blog:
https://pyramidhousethailand.blogspot.com 

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

Other eating habits

We have been working steadily on our construction process for two months now.

Every morning we take the time to have our outside breakfast and go somewhere for dinner almost every evening.
I think I lost weight. I have had to tighten my belt two steps and when I look back, a lot has changed with regard to my eating habits.

Fruit, fruit and even more more fruit. Vegetables and all kinds of herbs.

Here in the village in Isaan region and in the countryside it is no more than normal. Phatsamon's mother grows a lot at her land  and many things already have been sown and cultivated on our own land.

We are now following the seasons and at the moment that is mainly mango, grapes and watermelon. Bananas all year round and also apples, oranges, lemons, etc .. Vegetables cabbage, long beans, green beans, carrot, (lots of) garlic, spring onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and so on. And all kinds of fresh herbs from the garden are also included. It is a daily routine for me now.

And the strange thing is, in the Netherlands I nearly did not eat fruit at all. A bite in an apple or banana almost immediately caused allergy. I hardly ever suffer from this here. Probably because no chemicals or preservatives are used.

What is left of my old pattern is the daily peanut butter sandwich. I haven't seen potatoes in two months either.

Actually all quite tasty (and also much healthier) and how it is prepared, fresh close by, is very attractive;).



Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)

email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: 

http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Building blog:
https://pyramidhousethailand.blogspot.com 

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

A daily free sauna visit

I just got off the roof yesterday afternoon. I had to weld a steel structure to make a sandwich roof, but my work shoes stuck to the roof of the container and I almost burned my butt when I wanted to sit down for a while to make a weld.

And also, very special ... no shade because the sun is right above you.

The temperatures during the day are high, very high and it is actually not really very healthy to work outside around noon.

During the day, temperatures are around, and often above, forty degrees Celsius. At night it is barely under thirty.

No, fortunately no government heat plan or other rules. Great. We are used to it here. And an advice to drink on regular base between one and a half to two liters of water per day can also be ignored. Your body will indicate it itself. I think I am on average about six to seven liters if not more. It flows nicely so to speak. And several showers a day really feel great.

In 1980 I once had the experience in Saudi Arabia where I was a construction contractor in the desert. I worked with a small group of yes, 35 Thai workers and a few Koreans. Many of those memories come back during my activities here.

Still we go on with our activities but slow, slow. A cloud for the sun is very welcome during the day. And in the meantime, regularly rest in the shade under our beach tent and enjoy what we have been made again.

And all the disturbances about that virus means that the air here, but actually almost everywhere in the world, is blissfully clean.

Nothing to complain about. It is currently a kind of free in the sauna every day.

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)

email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: 

http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Building blog:
https://pyramidhousethailand.blogspot.com 

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

We are all sick enough now. Time for an Antivirus. The over-response of remedies are worse than the disease.

Around the year 2000, I regularly went to the Bistrita province in Romania together with fire brigade colleagues from Herzogenrath, Germany. We did an exchange program with each other for years. Growing by sharing. Many friendships arose and ... still exist.

A fixed point in our visits to Bistrita was that we were always welcomed with what the Romanians called their 'Antivirus'. Here a picture of a similar drink. However, the Romanian snaps came in some sort of Coke bottle, had almost 80% alcohol and yes ... indeed didn't please any virus I guess. Good and happy memories.

I had to think about it when I started writing this blog. Aren’t we all sick enough now of all the implemented measures related to a virus? If you are not physically ill from this severe flu, then you will become ill because of all the measures and rules that make you more than sick in another way. The 'side effects' of these policies are not nothing.

Unimaginable damage is done. Lost work, bankruptcy, no face-to-face contacts, loneliness, tourist sector and hospitality industry flat, economy (except for a few) down, panic and above all ... fear. And we are only talking about a virus and the 'difficult times' we have ended up in (or are they being done to us I sometimes think).

As if we have ended up in a kind of cheap horror movie (and this movie isn’t yet finished).

Are the, well-intentioned, measures to get a new virus under control all together not a bit overdone and above all overtaken?

I heard that in the Netherlands even the army is using drones to check whether you are walking in the forest with more than two people. Bizarre and rather terrifying. It should not get any crazier and what is going to be invented for the future. Is there really no one who can put a stop (or have the guts to stop) to this excessive policies?

And yes, we need to work on a European (perhaps worldwide) plan as exit strategy for the lock-downs. Sad to see how EU member states are involved. It must have been a lifestyle stream presentation. Difficult to speak for a theater without audience by the way.

Social media, sentiment (the emphasis is on people dying) and political following and movement are doing 'well'.

And of course, there are always companies and organizations that earn money on it. For example, people who work at 3M can certainly count on a high end-of-year bonus after the overproduction of mouth masks (that do not protect a lot). And the online delivery services are certainly doing good business as well.

Gasoline prices are suddenly low, rents from an Airbnb sometimes drop to 50% and there are plenty of other examples to mention.

And working from home, which was a lot of hassle about when I was director, will soon be the most normal thing in the world.

Yesterday someone wrote to me that he has decided to ignore the news about this madness. That will be difficult although I have managed quite well so far.

[Addition April 19: It is good to see that thousands of Americans (not least affected country) are now protesting. They recognize that the remedy is worse than the disease and want to get back to work despite the limited risks that exist.

The flu season is coming to an end and we can be sure that the figures for this flu virus will also go down quickly. It will certainly be announced that 'all the regulations and measures' worked out well. The damage they have caused (but fair to say is also a lot of new initiatives and developments it brought) is quickly placed on the background.]

It is time for a Romanian Antivirus (unfortunately not available here at the moment), but that will probably be fine soon. To create for a while a feeling of being more free again and to understand that with all our technology and intelligence we cannot reign life. 

We are all human beings living on a planet. And although ruining nature, nature will always be the winner. 

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)

email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: 

http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Building blog:
https://pyramidhousethailand.blogspot.com 

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

Living in rural Thailand instead of city life

Indeed it is something different. From the end of February I live in Surin. A place in the north-east of Thailand about 80 km from the border with Cambodia.

We have a fantastic high energetic plot of land on which we are carrying out our building process. A small, private, spiritual center with pyramids. Although the land of approx. 9000 m2 is still part of the city of Surin, you can hardly call it city where we live. It's all countryside. We are about 400 meters from the 'center' of the village.

Many acquaintances wondered if this would be the right place for me. What the hell are you going to do there? It is too hot there. You are far from everything. Almost no 'Farang' (foreigners) live there and Chiang Mai (where I still live) offers you everything ... There was even an acquaintance who predicted that it might be my death to work on our process here. And who knows. Everything is possible and an accident (incidentally everywhere) is always possible. My brother just a couple of days ago, staying home not to get flu, fell over a chair inside his house and broke his hip. But all this fears reasons not do fulfill your dreams? 

So far we have been more than happy. I once wrote that we see our building process as meditation. No, or as little as possible, stress and enjoy everything we create. Sitting still, people who know me know, is not for me and my years of meditation and now yoga and tantra also give a completely different interpretation to the value of living my life (our lives). Live by the day and live with the rhythm of nature.

I do not miss the 'Farang' to date and yes, it is very hot (April is also the hottest month). The most important thing is that we experience fun and above all freedom every day.

Every morning, enjoying breakfast together outside, walking meditation in a forest of rubber trees together with Kadhow, enjoy beautiful birds (yes, again different than in Chiang Mai), cows and water buffaloes, the occasional scooter that passes. Glad our old tree we received as a gift, seems to feel well and continues growing. And only a little bothered by what is happening around us all, especially now, in the world.

Own water supply, if necessary our own electricity. More and more self-supporting with a girlfriend who especially loves gardening and literally knows how to crop and grow almost every plant or seed. She learned from her parents and at university. We are not on an island but see a small paradise under our feet arise.

Turned into a hermit Frans? No, and I never will. It is another change and so far it pleases well.

Something different indeed. Grateful to at least so far be able and got the strength to let it unfold.


Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)

email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: 

http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Building blog:
https://pyramidhousethailand.blogspot.com 

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

The expercience of great energy

Although we do not follow the news and social media, we still know that the world is quite in crisis. We are cooperative where we have to. At the place where we are creating we do and behave freely as we have always been used to.

Last week the eldest brother of my girlfriend gave us an over 200 years old tree as a present. We found a specialized company to carry out the relocation operation. That took a while to get the right feeling and we visited quite a few companies last Sunday and Monday. It was all a matter of feeling and connection to get trust in the for us right company to do the 'moving' operation.

In Prasat (about 30 km from our construction site) we found a company and I got goosebumps when we entered the premises there. More than 300 trees that were super cared for were waiting for new owners. Five ladies who offered them continuous attention and care. It was like visiting an animal shelter where you are going to find your new dog or cat.

My chills came from the energy that reigns there. Something I also experience when I walk with my dog in the rubber tree forest not two hundred meters away from our location. It resonates.

Great to experience the energy of nature and ... to be able and allowed to refuel that more than 200 years old energy in our new place with our new tree as well.


Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)

email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: 

http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Building blog:
https://pyramidhousethailand.blogspot.com 

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

Thank you Corona Virus for making us aware of what LIVING life really is all about

Just having internet again and this message I got from my youngest sister. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgm9E_cmvWA

For me worth to share. So true to go back to basics of what life is all about...

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)
email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: 

http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Building blog:
https://pyramidhousethailand.blogspot.com 

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

No internet no blogs

Dear reader,

We get a new internet connection. Unfortunately, there is no fiber optic cable due to delayed delivery from China.

As soon as we are back in the air you will see my blogs again.

My apologize

Frans

New! A powerbank relationship

Sometimes it is difficult to keep up with the times and stay modern. Just to mix up in this modern world and practice offers you helping hands.

Last Friday I went to Mountain View Restaurant with dog Kadhow for a Thai lunch. A place about four kilometers away from me in Mae Rim. I had not been there for weeks.

I was not alone. There was another Thai man and a Thai couple about 40 years old. At least I think it was a couple because they had the same ring on their finger. The way they were dressed they looked like business people. The man seemed somewhat nervous and could not keep his feet still. I got it from my acting course to observe people. Maybe not neat or polite but it just happens to me. My kids and my girlfriend immediately feel when it happens. Often a kind of movie shows up in my head about what kind of people I have sitting close to me. Strange to say maybe, but I am almost certain that I am not very wrong with that movie. My kids are sometimes full of laughter when they see what happens with me, and that makes everything pretty light and funny.

For me it was a special couple. Special because they did not communicate. Not verbal, not non-verbal. Yes, they ordered food and after that it was quiet. They were completely taken by their mobiles, each for themselves and in his or her own world. And not just for a while but their entire stay in the restaurant. And I wonder if they actually tasted, let alone, enjoyed the goodies they had ordered.

My thoughts went energetic. What do you mean relationship? Do you already have nothing to say to each other at that age anymore? Is switching off and investing in each other no longer a more attractive option during work break? What binds or connects this couple?

A poem by Toon Hermans (Dutch comedian and poem writer) suddenly came up in my head. It starts with the sentence: "You need someone, silent and sincere ...".

And when this sentence came up, only then did I see it. The Powerbank that was on the table! That covenant. That was necessary and you only had to be silent. Two USB cables in the device, both one of his and one of her mobile. A form of extra battery power relationship for when the energy in your relationship is exhausted. See, that's possible too.

A grin on my face. I had learned something again. Actually, it's so easy to keep up with the times. You only have to look around and be surprised ...

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)
email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: 

http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Building blog:
https://pyramidhousethailand.blogspot.com 

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

Economic growth and progress or categorical ruining?

I notice that the number of concrete trucks on the roads is decreasing a bit around the place where I live. For years 1 out of three trucks was a concrete truck. Now that is perhaps one out of four. I think it shows some stagnation in the economy. But still, building continues steadily and not just here in Thailand. After all, we all go for progress in this world.

Not only in construction but also in technology, "progress and growth" is made if you believe the stories and media. Things you buy faster are old and need to be replaced is what marketing tells you. And you want to stay ‘part of the group’ so you replace.

I really would not know how my grandfathers and grandmothers would survive if they came back in this modern and digital age.

As a child, I heard and saw stories that in the future we would be walking around in a kind of aluminum moon-suits. With the news of recent months about flu viruses, it seems true. And let's remain serious that predicted fashion has not become real, although fragments of it have indeed proved true.

The American president preaches that we are going to visit Mars. Again, a huge investment and economical growth. Isn’t it time first we start to live at and organize tourist trips to the moon? (Just kidding).

Economy has fat and lean years. But if, generally taken, it is really always sustainable progress and growth? I wonder myself more and more.

In the short-term satisfaction of by marketing produced consumers desires. In my opinion, long-term thinking, which means the future for the next generation, seems far away. It's all about (money) now or now that money, and "I" and what comes later isn’t an item for now at all. The new generation will help themselves. Maybe not a crazy reasoning at all, because it has been like that in all ages so far.

What we might lose sight of is that growth and development no longer run as steady, straight ascending lines, but have become exponential and are completely out of control.

As if it should all be done today. We are in a hurry and there seems to be no time to lose. It is good for us (or for the other person's wallet). After all, time (and future) may run out, so sometimes it seems.

But really progress?

Nature holds up the mirror to us but we refuse to look into it. Record after record (in the negative sense) is broken. And it is not only nature that gets sick. People are also becoming more and more sick and lonely. Personal loans can no longer be dragged on (after all, you cannot be left behind to continue to buy).

We live on an economic bubble. Houses are empty (at least here and at this moment) and tourists stay away…

My girlfriend recently told me that nature will ultimately be the winner. I think she is right and that all that so-called growth and progress will have brought more and more victims and demolition than we ever loved ...

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)
email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: 

http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Building blog:
https://pyramidhousethailand.blogspot.com 

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.